Figurative & Sensory Language

Figurative Language and Sensory Language

1. Hyperbole

  • Definition: An exaggeration of something, sometimes meant to be comical.

  • Example: "I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse!"

2. Alliteration

  • Definition: The repetition of the first letter of multiple words in a line of poetry or text.

3. Simile

  • Definition: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things by using the words 'like' or 'as'.

4. Metaphor

  • Definition: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things by saying one is another; frequently employs forms of the verb 'to be' (am, is, are, was, were).

5. Onomatopoeia

  • Definition: Words that are spelled like they sound; these words phonetically imitate the sounds they describe.

6. Personification

  • Definition: The attribution of human qualities to an animal or a non-living object.

  • Example: "The sun baked the swimmers."

7. Sensory Language

  • Definition: Writing that attempts to engage the reader by appealing to one or more of the following senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell.

8. Repetition

  • Definition: The repeated use of sounds, words, lines of poetry, or sentences for effect and emphasis.

9. Tone

  • Definition: The attitude of a writer toward the subject they write about, which is implied by their choice of words.

10. Mood

  • Definition: The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader through their choice of words.

11. Imagery

  • Definition: Language that appeals to the five senses; the words "paint" a description in the reader's mind.

12. Idiom

  • Definition: A common, often used expression that doesn't make sense if taken literally.

13. Allusion

  • Definition: In literature, when the author refers to another work of literature, a historic event/person, or a theatrical performance (movie or play). The reader needs to understand the reference, which is expected to be well-known due to shared background knowledge.

14. Irony

  • Definition: A contrast between expectation and reality, often highlighting incongruity.

15. Juxtaposition

  • Definition: The placement of two things closely together to emphasize a contrast between them.

16. Pun

  • Definition: The use of multiple meanings of words or the playful use of words for humorous effect. Commonly found in riddles, jokes, and advertisements.